Sensor probe and related systems and methods

ABSTRACT

The invention provides a sensor probe which has: one or more microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) sensors configured to sense one or more parameters and a communication bus in electrical communication therewith. The one or more sensors and communication bus are disposed on a substrate. The sensor probe includes a digital storage module in which a unique probe identifier is stored and which is in electrical communication with the communication bus. The probe includes, a cable, a first end of which is in electrical communication with the communication bus and a second end of which is in electrical communication with a remote monitoring unit. The cable is configured to provide electrical power received from the remote monitoring unit to the one or more sensors, via the communication bus, and to communicate data received from the one or more sensors, via the communication bus, to the remote monitoring unit.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a sensor probe and sensor probe systems,specifically to sensor probes and sensor probe systems used to monitorparameters associated with objects.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Sensor probes may be used for measuring parameters such environmentalconditions. The sensor probe may be inserted into an object or fixed inclose proximity thereto and can monitor the environmental conditions ofthe object or to which it is exposed. The sensor probe may bepermanently positioned or alternatively they may be temporarilypositioned and used only to measure the environmental conditions of theobject periodically. Temperature may be one of the most commonlymeasured parameters by sensor probes. Several types of sensor may beused for measuring temperature, such as thermocouples, thermistors andresistance temperature detectors (RTDs).

Whilst thermocouples, thermistors and RTDs have been used for many yearsto monitor temperatures, and may well continue to play an important rolein industry, there may be emerging applications that require a sensorprobe with a suite of sensors and the thermocouples, thermistors andRTDs cannot easily conform. For example, thermocouples, thermistors andRTDs are typically used for measuring temperature and provide a voltageas their output, making them impractical in certain situations.

One particular use of sensor probes is the monitoring of objects beingtransported. For example sensor probes may be placed in packaging alongwith the object to be transported. In this manner, environmentalconditions to which the object is exposed during transportation may bedetected by the probe. This may indicate to entities responsible for thetransportation of the object whether or not the object has been exposedto environmental conditions which may be detrimental to the integrity ofthe object. This is typically done by associating each sensor probe witha monitoring unit which can record measurements provided by the sensorprobe and communicate such measurements to the responsible entities viaa display screen of the monitoring unit, or a data communication link,or the like.

As objects can be in transportation for prolonged periods of time,sensor probes which consume small amounts of power may be desirable sothat battery life of the probe or monitoring unit, where applicable, maybe improved. Furthermore, providing a sensor probe and monitoring unitwith each object may not be conducive to scalability and may also resultin unnecessary cost.

There is accordingly a need for a sensor probe which addresses at leastsome of the problems identified above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with a first aspect of the invention, there is provided asensor probe comprising:

one or more microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) sensors configured tosense one or more parameters;

a substrate on which the one or more sensors is disposed;

a communication bus disposed on the substrate and in electricalcommunication with the one or more sensors;

a digital storage module in which a unique probe identifier is stored,the digital storage module being in electrical communication with thecommunication bus; and,

a cable, a first end of which being in electrical communication with thecommunication bus and a second end of which is in electricalcommunication with a remote monitoring unit, the cable being configuredto provide electrical power received from the remote monitoring unit tothe one or more sensors, via the communication bus, and to communicatedata received from the one or more sensors, via the communication bus,to the remote monitoring unit.

Further features of the invention provide for the digital storage moduleto be an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM)integrated circuit; for sensor identifier data including one or more ofthe group of: sensor identifiers and/or sensor properties correspondingto the one or more MEMS sensors of the probe; a register; access tablemaps, and up-loadable sensor driver access program to be stored in thedigital storage module; for each sensor identifier to identify a type ofMEMS sensor and associated properties of the MEMS sensor to which itcorresponds; for each sensor identifier to be an address of thecorresponding MEMS sensor; for the digital storage module to communicatethe unique probe identifier and/or sensor identifier data to the remotemonitoring unit via the communication bus and cable.

Yet further features of the invention provide for the one or more MEMSsensors to include any one or more of the group of: a temperaturesensor; humidity sensor; pressure sensor; movement sensor; vibrationsensor; acceleration sensor; light sensor; gas sensor; air-flow sensor;direction sensor; a magnetomer; a gyroscope; an accelerometer; amicrophone; a power monitoring sensor that detects an initial powerapplication and thereafter monitors power within operational limits forcurrent consumption and voltage; or the like; for the sensed parametersto be one or more of: environmental; physical; or situationalparameters.

A still further feature of the invention provides for the substrate tobe a printed circuit board.

Further features of the invention provide for the communication bus toinclude a clock line, a data line, a power line and a ground line; forthe communication bus to be an inter-integrated circuit (I2C)communication bus; for the clock line to be a serial clock line and thedata line to be a serial data line; for the communication bus to furtherinclude an interrupt line.

Yet further features of the invention provide for the one or moresensors to be configured to receive electrical power and a clock signalfrom the remote monitoring unit; for the one or more sensors to beconfigured to receive permanent electrical power and a clock signal fromthe remote monitoring unit on an intermittent basis; for the one or moresensors, responsive to receiving electrical power and a clock signal, tobe configured to transmit, via the serial data line, measurement data;for the one or more sensors to be configured to receive control data;for current drawn by the sensor probe to not exceed 200 micro Amperes;for current drawn by the sensor probe to preferably not exceed 80 microAmperes.

A further feature of the invention provides for the sensor probe to beoperable to operate at environmental temperatures between −200 and +125degrees centigrade.

Further features of the invention provide for the sensor probe tofurther comprise a casing in which the substrate, one or more sensors,communication bus and digital storage module may be disposed; for thecasing to be a protective housing having an open or closed end and asubstantially closed end, the substantially closed end providing anaperture through with the cable may pass.

Yet further features of the invention provide for the cable to befurther configured to transmit and receive data between the sensor probeand the remote monitoring unit; for the data to include measurementdata, control data and sensor identifier data; for the control data toinclude commands, parameters and/or threshold limits; for the second endof the cable to be permanently attached to the remote monitoring unit;for the second end of the cable to be detachable from the remotemonitoring unit; for the second end of the cable to be provided with aconnector for connecting to a corresponding connector of the remotemonitoring unit.

Further features of the invention provide for the cable to be furtherconfigured to transmit and receive data between the one or more sensorsand the remote monitoring unit, wherein the data includes commands,parameters and threshold limits.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, there is provided aprobe sensor system, the probe sensor system comprising a sensor probeand a remote monitoring unit, wherein the sensor probe comprises:

one or more microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) sensors configured tosense parameters;

a substrate on which the one or more sensors is disposed;

a communication bus disposed on the substrate and in electricalcommunication with the one or more sensors;

a digital storage module in which a unique probe identifier is stored,the digital storage module being in electrical communication with thecommunication bus; and,

a cable, a first end of which being connected to and in electricalcommunication with the communication bus and a second end of which isconnected to and in electrical communication with the remote monitoringunit, the cable being configured to provide electrical power receivedfrom the remote monitoring unit to the one or more sensors, via thecommunication bus, and to communicate data received from the one or moresensors, via the communication bus, to the remote monitoring unit;

and wherein the remote monitoring unit comprises:

a power source configured to provide electrical power to the monitoringunit and the sensor probe;

a master node at least being configured to transmit data to, and receivedata from, the one or more sensor probes via the cable, the receiveddata at least including information relating to a parameter sensed bythe one or more sensors; and,

a communication module configured to communicate at least the receiveddata to remotely accessible server.

Further features of the invention provide for the system to furtherinclude a probe hub, wherein the sensor probe and optionally one or moreadditional sensor probes are connected to and in electricalcommunication with the probe hub, the probe hub further being connectedto and in electrical communication with the remote monitoring unit, theprobe hub comprising a hub microcontroller and multiplexer circuit andbeing operable to multiplex data sent from respective sensor probes tothe remote monitoring unit and vice versa.

Yet further features of the invention provide for the probe hub toinclude one slave port and one or more master ports; for the probe hubto act as a master to sensor probes connected to master ports thereofand for the probe hub to act as a slave to the remote monitoring unitconnected to the slave port; for the hub microcontroller to beconfigured to manage and store multiple interrupts and associatedmeasurement data originating from sensor probes connected thereto and totransmit an interrupt to the remote monitoring unit; the remotemonitoring unit in turn being configured to receive an interrupt and,responsive to which, interrogate the probe hub for stored interrupts andassociated measurement data; for the probe hub to be configured to,responsive an interrogation by the remote monitoring unit, communicatestored interrupts and associated sensor data to the remote monitoringunit.

Still further features of the invention provide for additional probehubs to be provided, for the additional probe hubs to be connected in adaisy-chain formation with a series of additional probe hubs beingconnected downstream from the probe hub; wherein each one of thedownstream probe hubs is in electrical communication with, and acts as aslave to, preceding upstream probe hubs and each upstream probe hub actsas a master to succeeding downstream probe hubs; for each probe hub tobe addressable by a common and programmable unique hub identifier; foreach probe hub to optionally have one or more sensor probes connectedthereto and in electrical communication therewith; for each slave to beconfigured to send an interrupt to its master to cause the master tointerrogate the slave and, responsive to which, the slave communicatesstored interrupts and associated sensor data to the master.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, there is provided amethod of sensing parameters, the method being conducted by a probesensor system and comprising the steps of:

detecting an event using one or more microelectromechanical systems(MEMS) sensors of a sensor probe, the event corresponding to a change ina sensed parameter;

storing the detection and associated measurement data in an internaldigital storage of the MEMS sensor and transmitting an interrupt to anupstream device including an identifier of the sensor probe;

receiving an interrogation from an upstream device responsive totransmitting the interrupt;

responsive to being interrogated by the upstream device, transmitting atleast the stored detection and associated data to the upstream device.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, there is provided amethod of monitoring sensing parameters as provided by a probe sensorsystem, the method being conducted by an upstream device being a remotemonitoring unit or a probe hub and comprising the steps of:

receiving an interrupt from a downstream device including an identifierof a sensor probe, the interrupt relating to detecting an event usingone or more MEMS sensors of the sensor probe;

responsive to receiving the interrupt from the downstream device,interrogating the downstream device;

receiving at least the stored detection and associated data at theupstream device.

Further features of the invention provide for the method to include afurther step of, responsive to receiving the detection and associateddata from the downstream device, the upstream device transmitting aninterrupt to another device being upstream of the upstream device.

Yet further features of the invention provide for the step of theupstream device interrogating the downstream device to include accessinga register, access table map or up-loadable sensor driver access programof the downstream device.

Still further features of the invention provide for the method toinclude further steps of:

addressing a sensor probe using a unique probe identifier at amicrocontroller of a next downstream probe hub of a sensor probe sensorsystem;

the next downstream probe hub then checking to ascertain if theaddressed sensor probe is connected to itself, and if not, forwardingthe unique probe identifier, a sensor identifier and sensor parametersto be programmed into the addressed sensor probe to the next downstreamhub until an appropriate hub is reached; and

a microcontroller of the appropriate hub then addressing a digitalstorage module of the sensor probe and updating one or more sensorparameters of the sensor probe.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating components of a sensor probeaccording to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating components of a sensor probeaccording to another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating components of a sensor probeaccording to embodiments of the invention

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a sensor probe according toembodiments of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a probe sensor system according toembodiments of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating components of a remote monitoringunit according to embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a probe sensor system according toembodiments of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating components of a probe hubaccording to embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 9 is a swim-lane flow diagram illustrating methods according toembodiments of the invention;

FIG. 10 is a swim-lane flow diagram which illustrates additional stepsof the method of sensing parameters described with reference to FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 illustrates an example of a computing device in which variousaspects of the disclosure may be implemented; and,

FIG. 12 shows a block diagram of a communication device that may be usedin embodiments of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION WITH REFERENCE TO THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the invention are directed at a sensor probe and systemsand methods relating thereto. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustratingcomponents of a sensor probe (100) according to an embodiment of theinvention. The sensor probe has one or more microelectromechanicalsystems (MEMS) sensors (110) which are configured to sense parameters.

The terms MEMS sensors or microelectromechanical systems sensors, asused throughout this specification, are intended to have their broadestpossible meaning and may include integrated circuit (IC) sensors and/orIC sensors having a small profile. A MEMS sensor may refer to a sensorIC that is disposed or incorporated onto a printed circuit board (PCB)with an interface to an external microcontroller (MCU), digital storagemodule such as non-volatile memory and power. The sensor probe accordingto embodiments of this invention, however, is not provided with an MCUor a power source. Instead, a remote device is provided which containsan MCU which interfaces with the MEMS sensors and provides electricalpower via a cable. MEMS sensors may refer to very small ICs that consistof a central unit to process data, and several other components thatinteract with built-in microsensors on the IC. MEMS sensors may utilizeeither a serial peripheral interface (SPI) bus or inter-integratedcircuit (I2C) bus to transmit sensor data to an MCU, and MEMS sensorsmay also require a power line and a 0V ground (GND), as well asappropriate communication protocol data lines.

The parameters sensed by the MEMS sensors (110) may be environmentalconditions, situational conditions, physical conditions or the like. Forexample, the one or more sensors (110) may be any one or more of thegroup of a temperature sensor; humidity sensor; pressure sensor;movement sensor; vibration sensor; acceleration sensor; light sensor;gas sensor; air-flow sensor; direction sensor; a magnetomer; agyroscope; an accelerometer; a microphone; a radiation sensor; or thelike. At least some of the MEMS sensors may be put into a slow samplestate which in some cases may be a sample rate of one sample per second.This may serve as to lower the overall power consumption of the sensorprobe or remote monitoring unit. The one or more MEMS sensors (110) arepreferably digital interface IC's and are addressable by an identifier,which may be an ID number, on a common bus. The MEMS sensors (110) mayhave an open collector, or common output pin and may be configured totransmit a signal if an event is detected. The MEMS sensors preferablyhave limit settings (for example upper or lower limits) that may bemonitored internally while a master node or controller is sleeping, andcan wake up the master node from sleep when any exception occurs.

The one or more sensors (110) are disposed on a substrate (120) which,in a preferred embodiment is a printed circuit board (PCB). Acommunication bus (130) is also disposed on the substrate (120) and isin electrical communication with the one or more sensors. In a preferredembodiment of the invention, the communication bus (130) includes aclock line, a data line, a power line and a ground line and may be inthe form of copper tracks disposed on the substrate. Further embodimentsof the invention provide for the communication bus (130) to be aninter-integrated circuit (I2C) communication bus wherein the clock lineis a serial clock line and the data line is a serial data line. Someembodiments of the invention further provide for the communication busto include an interrupt line.

I2C communication makes use of a two wire communication bus thatsupports bi-directional data transfer between a master node and severalslave nodes, which in this case may be MEMS sensors. The master nodecontrols the I2C communication bus, and in particular a serial clockline (SCL), and synchronizes data transfers over the I2C communicationbus. The serial data line (SDA) is used to transfer data between themaster and slave nodes. The slave nodes respond to the master node.There can be multiple slave nodes on the I2C communication bus, andnormally only one master node. Both slave and master nodes can transferdata over the I2C communication bus. Serial clock and serial data linesfrom the master node are connected to all devices on the I2Ccommunication bus with pull-up resistors on both lines to the powerline. A 0V ground (GND) line as well as an interrupt/wake-up line isalso provided. Each slave device has a unique address that is managed bythe master node.

The sensor probe (100) further includes a digital storage module (115)in which a unique probe identifier is stored. The digital storage module(115) is in electrical communication with the communication bus (130)and is operable to send and receive data over the communication bus(115). Embodiments of the invention provide for the digital storagemodule (115) to be an electrically erasable programmable read-onlymemory (EEPROM) IC and for sensor identifiers corresponding to the oneor more MEMS sensors of the probe to be stored in the digital storagemodule (115). Each sensor identifier may be an address of thecorresponding MEMS sensor or a unique identifier. The digital storagemodule (115) is operable to communicate the unique probe identifier,sensor identifiers and/or register, access table maps, and optionalup-loadable sensor driver access program via the communication bus(130). In some embodiments of the invention, the digital storage module(115) is a STMicroelectronics® M24C31 serial I2C bus EEPROM storagemodule. In some embodiments of the invention, the sensor probe (100)includes an interface which at least includes the digital storage module(115) and at least one sensor.

In some embodiments of the invention, the digital storage module (115)of the sensor probe (100) may have a probe identifier and informationrelating types of sensors included on the sensor probe (100) andidentifiers used for I2C access. The digital storage module (115) mayalso contain a list of sensor register addresses, register types, suchas Status, Command, Data, and bit masks which may be used to isolateevents for each sensor (110). This data, or information, is read by anupstream device, for example a remote monitoring unit or a probe hub,and may be loaded into a generic sensor access program which operates onthe remote monitoring unit or probe hub, as the case may be, and whichmay enable the remote monitoring unit or probe hub to program sensors(110) of the sensor probe (100) and read data, such as measurement data,or events from the sensors (110).

In an alternate embodiment, a complete driver, or sensor access program,may be stored in the digital storage module (115) of the sensor probe(100). Such a drive may be similar to, for example a computing devicedriver such as a Microsoft® Windows® driver, and may be used by anupstream device, for example a remote monitoring unit or a probe hub, toaccess or address the sensors (115). For example an upstream device maycopy the driver from the digital storage module (115) of the sensorprobe (100) into its own digital storage and may execute the driver fromthe digital storage of the upstream device. This may enable a controllerof the upstream device to access any future probe sensor or sensor probe(100), for example a sensor probe (100) which is added at a later stage,without performing firmware upgrades on the upstream devices in thefield each time a new sensor probe (100) is added to the upstreamdevice. Such a driver, or access parameters or access program, may beloaded by a controller, for example being a microcontroller, of theupstream device when a sensor probe (100) is first detected by theupstream device and may be stored and/or used while the sensor probe(100) is attached to the upstream device.

Once sensor probes are deployed, it would be very difficult for a remotemonitoring unit to be able to determine, and work with, sensorparameters if these parameters are not stored on the digital storagemodule of the sensor probe. Hence, whenever any type of sensor probe ismanufactured, it may be provided with its own register, access tablemap, sensor identifiers and sensor driver access program loaded into thedigital storage module. Thus, when any one of our probes are pluggedinto a probe hub or a remote monitoring unit, the sensor parameters inthe digital storage module of the sensor probe may be read by, orup-loaded to, a microcontroller of the hub or remote monitoring unit forprocessing and executing purposes.

The sensor probe (100) includes a cable (140) which is in electricalcommunication with the communication bus (130). A first end of the cable(140) is connected to the sensor probe and a second end may be connectedto an external device, such as a remote monitoring unit or a hub.Embodiments of the invention provide for the remote monitoring unit or ahub to act as or provide a master node. The cable (140) is configured toprovide electrical power and a clock signal received from the externaldevice to the one or more sensors (110) and digital storage module(115), via the communication bus (130), and to communicate data receivedfrom the one or more sensors (110) and/or digital storage module (115),via the communication bus (130), to the external device. The cable (140)accordingly extends the communication bus to the external device.Embodiments of the invention provide for the cable to have four wiresfor each of the serial clock line, the serial data line, the power lineand the ground line. Some embodiments of the invention further providefor the cable (140) to include fifth wire for an interrupt line.

In some embodiments of the invention, the one or more sensors (110)and/or digital storage module (115) may be configured to receiveelectrical power and a clock signal on an intermittent basis. The one ormore sensors may, responsive to receiving electrical power and a clocksignal, be configured to transmit, via the serial data line, an outputcorresponding to a sensed parameter. Embodiments of the inventionaccordingly provide a sensor probe (100) which may be configured to drawsmall amounts of current which in turn results in a sensor probe (100)which is has low power consumption. In some embodiments of theinvention, the sensor probe may draw less that 200 micro Amperes (uA)when operating at room temperature and in a more preferred embodimentmay draw current not exceeding 80 uA.

In some embodiments of the invention, the one or more MEMS sensors (110)are configured to detect events, being measurements which lie outside ofpredefined thresholds, and to record the detection of such events forcommunication to an external device.

By providing a sensor probe (100) without an MCU, power source andmaster node, the sensor probe (100) according to embodiments of theinvention may be operable to operate at environmental temperaturesbetween −40 and +85 degrees centigrade. More preferably, the sensorprobe may be operable to operate at environmental temperatures between−60 and +125 degrees centigrade and even more preferably the sensorprobe may be operable to operate at environmental temperatures between−80 and +135 degrees centigrade.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating components of a sensor probe(200) according to another embodiment of the invention. The sensor probe(200) is similar to the sensor probe described above with reference toFIG. 1 and includes four MEMS sensors (212, 213, 214, 216). The MEMSsensors in the illustrated embodiment include a temperature sensor(212), a humidity sensor (213) a pressure sensor (214) and a lightsensor (216). Other embodiments of the invention may include moresensors in any of a number of possible combinations. Exemplarytemperature sensors include an Analog Devices® ADT7420 temperaturesensor or any other appropriate sensor. Exemplary humidity sensorsinclude a Sensirion® SHT21 humidity sensor or any other appropriatehumidity sensor. Exemplary pressure sensors include aSTMicroelectronics® LPS331AP pressure sensor or any other appropriatepressure sensor. Exemplary light sensors include a Maxim Integrated™MAX44009 light sensor or any other appropriate light sensor or ambientlight sensor. Some embodiments provide for more than one of the sametype of sensor to be provided, for example, for two or more lightsensors (216) and/or for two or more humidity sensors (213) to beprovided.

The sensor probe (200) also includes a digital storage module (215), acommunication bus (230), a substrate on which the MEMS sensors (212,214, 216), digital storage module (215) and communication bus (230) aredisposed, and a cable (240). The MEMS sensors (212, 213, 214, 216) anddigital storage module (215) are in electrical communication with thecommunication bus (230). Each one of the MEMS sensors (212, 213, 214,216) and digital storage module (215) includes a serial data pin, aserial clock pin, a power pin (or V+, VCC pin) and a ground pin (or GND,VSS pin) and are preferably operable to communicate using the I2Ccommunication protocol. Some of the MEMS sensors and/or the digitalstorage module may further include an interrupt pin. Each respectiveserial data pin, serial clock pin, power pin and ground pin of the MEMSsensors (212, 213, 214, 216) and digital storage module (215) are inelectrical communication with corresponding serial data, serial clock,power and ground wires respectively of the communication bus (230). Thusa common serial data wire, for example, of the communication bus (230)is in electrical communication with each respective serial data pin ofthe MEMS sensors (212, 213, 214, 216) and digital storage module (215).

FIG. 3 is a block diagram in which wires of the communication bus areillustrated. The wires of the communication bus include a serial datawire (236), a serial clock wire (234), a power wire (238), a ground wire(232) and an interrupt wire (237) according to embodiments of theinvention. The wires are common to the corresponding serial data, serialclock, power, ground and interrupt pins of the respective MEMS sensors(212, 213, 214, 216).

When the sensor probe is connected to and in electrical communicationwith the remote monitoring unit, a master node is included electricallyand an open-ended circuit is provided which is operable to communicatedata using serial clock and serial data lines. Additional MEMS sensordevices can be added to the I2C communication bus if desired ornecessary. On both the serial data line (236) and serial clock line(234), there are “pull-up” resistors (239) to the power line. The SDAline remains “high” if the sensor devices are not transmitting. Themaster node initiates the I2C communication by generating clock signalson the serial clock line.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a sensor probe according toembodiments of the invention in which the sensor probe (300) includes acasing (350) in which the substrate (350), one or more sensors andcommunication bus and digital storage module may be disposed. The casing(350) is preferably a protective housing which may be cylindrical ortubular in shape and may have an open end and a substantially closedend, the substantially closed end providing an aperture through whichthe cable (340) may pass. In some embodiments of the invention, thecasing may have a closed end and a substantially closed end providing anaperture through which the cable (340) may pass.

For example, where a sensor probe is configured to sense parameters suchas humidity and pressure, the housing may have an open end. In such acase, the invention further provides for at least some of the MEMSsensors, digital storage module and at least some of the substrate to besealed off from the open end of the housing. Where a sensor probe isprovided without humidity or pressure MEMS sensors, the open end of thehousing may be closed.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a probe sensor system (401) according toembodiments of the invention. The probe sensor system (401) comprises asensor probe (402) according to embodiments of the invention and aremote monitoring unit (460).

The sensor probe (402) comprises one or more microelectromechanicalsystems (MEMS) sensors configured to sense parameters and a substrate onwhich the one or more sensors is disposed. The sensor probe (402)includes a communication bus disposed on the substrate and which is inelectrical communication with the one or more sensors as well as adigital storage module in which a unique probe identifier is stored, thedigital storage module is in electrical communication with thecommunication bus. In the illustrated embodiment, the sensor probeincludes a casing and a cable (440), a first end of which is connectedto and in electrical communication with the communication bus and asecond end of which is connected to and in electrical communication withthe remote monitoring unit (460). The cable (440) is configured toprovide electrical power and a clock signal received from the remotemonitoring unit (460) to the one or more sensors, via the communicationbus, and to communicate data received from the one or more sensors, viathe communication bus, to the remote monitoring unit (460).

FIG. 6 is a block diagram which illustrates components the remotemonitoring unit (460) of FIG. 5. The remote monitoring unit (460)includes a power source (466) which is configured to provide electricalpower to the monitoring unit (460) and the sensor probe (402) via thecable (440). The power source (466) may be a battery, a solar panel,wind turbine or the like or may be an adapter or inverter which receivespower from an external power source. The remote monitoring unit (460)also includes a master node (462) which is at least configured totransmit data to, and receive data from, the one or more MEMS sensors orone or more hubs via the cable (440). The received data may at leastinclude information relating to a parameter sensed by the one or moresensors. The master node (462) may be an I2C master node. The remotemonitoring unit (460) includes a communication module (464) which isconfigured to communicate at least the received data to a remote device,for example, remotely accessible gateway or server. Embodiments of theinvention provide for the remote monitoring unit (460) to be providedwith a communication bus (469), which is preferably an I2C communicationbus, and which is in electrical communication with the master node (462)and a communication port (468), or socket, to which the cable (440) maybe connected. The cable (440) may be permanently connected to the port(468) or may be provided with a connector configured to be received andheld releasably captive by a corresponding assembly of the port (468).The connector may be a 5-pin connector. In some embodiments of theinvention, the remote monitoring unit (460) may include an MCU, anon-volatile memory, an antenna, a display screen and any othercomponents or modules which may be required for the remote monitoringunit (460) to perform its functions.

In embodiments of the invention, the master node (462) is configured togenerate a clock signal on the serial clock line. The master node (462)is configured to transmit and receive data via the serial data line. Thecommunication bus may be shared by many sensor probes and there is apotential for any sensor probe to have a fault which may cause thecommunication bus to hang. For example if any sensor on a probe holdsthe serial data line or serial clock line low, it may prevent the masternode from sending START or STOP commands to, for example, reset thecommunication bus. Thus an interrupt, or reset, line is provided withwhich the sensors and/or sensor probes may be reset. Alternatively thepower line may be cycled which will also reset the sensor probes.

The master node (462) also supplies electrical power to the sensorprobes, typically corresponding to a voltage being less than or equal to3.3V. Each sensor probe and/or MEMS sensor, or peripheral, is referredto as a slave node which is addressed by the master node. A sensor probecan be either a receiver or transmitter of data. Sensor probes accordingto embodiments of the invention use a wire cable for the serial data andserial clock lines, the reset line, the 0V ground and power line. Theserial data and serial clock lines, the reset line, the 0V ground andpower line according to various embodiments of the invention may be usedto communicate data signals, clock signals, reset/interrupt/wake-upsignals, ground signals and power signals respectively.

According to embodiments of the invention, once a sensor probe isplugged into the I2C communication port (468) of the remote monitoringunit (460), and consequently placed in electrical communication with themaster node (462), a power pin of the master node (462) supplies avoltage between +2.8V and +3.3V which in turn supplies a voltage to thepower line of the communication bus. Being in electrical communicationwith the communication bus and master node (462), the sensor probe isalso supplied with a voltage. The supplied voltage may then power to thesensor probe and the master node (462) then initiates a communicationlink between itself and the sensor probe by utilizing the serial clockline. The master node can identify specific sensor probes frominformation stored in the digital storage module of the sensor probe.

The master node (462) can also communicate with a probe hub, or anappropriate multiplexer, or an I2C hub which may be connected to thecommunication port (468) of the remote monitoring unit (460). Probe hubsare used for splitting the communication bus into multiple communicationbus lines for connecting multiple sensor probes. The probe hubs can alsobe cascaded to form long probe networks

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of another probe sensor system (601) accordingto embodiments of the invention. The probe sensor system includes one ormore sensor probes (602), one or more probe hubs (670), a remotemonitoring unit (660), communication networks (682) and a remote server(684) which may be a remotely accessible network gateway or server.

Each one of the one or more sensor probes (602) has one or moremicroelectromechanical systems (MEMS) sensors configured to senseparameters and a substrate on which the one or more sensors is disposed.A communication bus is disposed on the substrate and is in electricalcommunication with the one or more sensors. The one or more sensorprobes (602) includes a digital storage module in which a unique probeidentifier is stored, the digital storage module is in electricalcommunication with the communication bus. Each of the one or more sensorprobes (602) includes a cable, a first end of which is connected to andin electrical communication with the communication bus and a second endof which is connected to and in electrical communication with a probehub (670). The cable is configured to provide electrical power and aclock signal received from the remote monitoring unit (660), via one ormore probe hubs (670), to the one or more sensors, via the communicationbus, and to communicate data received from the one or more sensors, viathe communication bus, to the remote monitoring unit (660), via one ormore probe hubs (670).

The remote monitoring unit (660) has a power source configured toprovide electrical power to the monitoring unit (660) and the one ormore sensor probes (602) and optionally the probe hubs (670). The remotemonitoring unit (660) has a master node which is at least configured totransmit data to, and receive data from, the one or more sensor probes(602) via one or more probe hubs (670), the received data at leastincluding information relating to a parameter sensed by the one or moreMEMS sensors. The remote monitoring unit (660) has a communicationmodule configured to communicate at least the received data from one ormore sensor probes (602) to a remote server (684). The data may becommunicated by periodically directly connecting the remote monitoringunit (660) into the remote server (684) or via one or morecommunications networks (682) which may include the internet, Wi-Fi orcellular data networks.

The one or more probe hubs (670) are in electrical communication withthe remote monitoring unit (660) via a first probe hub. The one or moreprobe hubs (670) are cascaded, with the first probe hub being connectedto and in electrical communication with the remote monitoring unit and asuccessive probe hub. In this manner, a chain of connected probe hubs(670) may be formed.

Each one of the one or more probe hubs (670) has one or more sensorprobes (602) connected thereto and in electrical communicationtherewith. Each probe hub (602) has a multiplexer and is operable tomultiplex data sent from respective sensor probes (602) to the remotemonitoring unit (660) and vice versa.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram which illustrates components of a probe hub(670) according to embodiments of the invention. The probe hub (670)includes a multiplexer (672), a hub microcontroller (671), a pluralityof communication busses (674) and a plurality of ports (676, 678). Theprobe hub (670) also includes a plurality of power switches (675) and aplurality of static protectors (677).

The plurality of ports (676, 678) include a plurality of master ports(676) and a slave port (678). The master ports (676) are in electricalcommunication with the multiplexer (672) such that the probe hub (670)may act as a master node to devices being connected thereto. The slaveport (678) is in electrical communication with the hub microcontroller(671) such that the probe hub (670) acts as a slave node to devicesconnected to the slave port (678). The master ports (676) are connectedto the multiplexer via respective communication busses (674). The slaveport (678) is connected to the multiplexer (672) via the hubmicrocontroller (671) and a communication bus (674). The multiplexer(672) is thus operable to multiplex data received at a master port (676)to the slave port (678) via the communication bus (674) and the hubmicrocontroller (671). Similarly, the multiplexer is operable todemultiplex data received at the slave port (678) to relevant a masterport (676).

Cables of sensor probes (602), or of other probe hubs (670), havingcorresponding connectors, may be connected to the master ports (676) ofa probe hub (670). Other probe hubs (670), or the remote monitoring unit(660), having corresponding connectors, may be connected to the slaveport (678) of a particular probe hub (670). In this manner, a pluralityof sensor probes (602) may be in electrical communication with theremote monitoring unit (660) via one or more probe hubs (670). Byconnecting another, second probe hub (670) into a particular first probehub (670), capacity for additional sensor probes may be provided. It isenvisaged that a plurality of probe hubs (670) may be cascaded, orconnected in a daisy-chain formation, with each probe hub (670) havingone or more sensor probes and optionally one or more probe hubs (670)connected thereto and in electrical communication therewith. Embodimentsof the invention accordingly anticipate a network of probe hubs, each ofwhich having one or more sensor probes connected thereto and inelectrical communication therewith.

Each probe hub (670) is configured to act as a master, or master node,to sensor probes connected thereto via the master ports (676). The sameprobe hub (670) is in turn configured to act as a slave, or slave node,to another probe hub (670), or to the remote monitoring unit (660), asthe case may be, being connected to the slave port (670).

In this manner, a daisy chain of devices may be defined wherein devicesbeing connected to master ports (676) of a particular probe hub (670)are defined as, or considered to be, “downstream” devices whilst devicesbeing connected to a slave port (678) of a particular probe hub (670)are defined as, or considered to be, “upstream” devices. Thus downstreamdevices of a particular probe hub (670) include all devices which are inelectrical communication with that probe hub (670) its master ports(676).

Thus as in the embodiment of the system (601) illustrated in FIG. 7,additional probe hubs (670) may be provided. Each of the additionalprobe hubs (670) is connected in a daisy-chain formation with a seriesof additional probe hubs (670) being connected downstream from the probehub (670). Each one of the downstream probe hubs (670) is in electricalcommunication with, and acts as a slave to, preceding upstream probehubs (670) and each upstream probe hub (670) acts as a master tosucceeding downstream probe hubs (670). Each probe hub is addressable bya common and programmable unique hub identifier and optionally has oneor more sensor probes (602) connected thereto and in electricalcommunication therewith. The sensor probes (602) similarly act as slavesto the probe hubs (670) to which they are connected. Each slave device,being either a probe hub (670) or a sensor probe (602), is configured tosend an interrupt to its master device, being either a probe hub (670)or the remote monitoring unit (660), as the case may be, which may causethe master device to interrogate the slave device and, responsive towhich, the slave device is configured to communicate stored detectionand associated sensor data to the master.

The hub microcontroller (671) of each probe hub (670) may thus beconfigured to manage and store multiple interrupts and associatedmeasurement data originating from sensor probes (602) connected theretoand to transmit an interrupt to the remote monitoring unit (660), or anupstream probe hub, as the case may be. The remote monitoring unit (660)or upstream probe hub (670), as the case may be, may in turn beconfigured to receive an interrupt and, responsive to which, interrogatethe downstream probe (670) or sensor probe (602), as the case may be,for stored detections, interrupts and associated measurement data. Thedownstream probe hub (670) or sensor probe (602), as the case may be, isin turn configured to, responsive an interrogation by the upstreamdevice, communicate stored interrupts and associated sensor data to theupstream device.

The hub microcontroller (671) of each probe hub (670) may use sensoridentifier data stored in a digital storage module of each probe hub,such as a register, access table map, and optional up-loadable sensordriver access program, to enable a generic procedure by which the hubmicrocontroller (671) may read the measurement data and/or sensoridentifier data, and store such data in a hub microcontroller memory.The hub microcontroller (671) of each cascaded probe hub (670) mayaccumulate all data from downstream probe hubs (670) and sensor probes(602). Any type of sensor probe (602), for example having anyarrangement and configuration of MEMS sensors, as well as anyconfiguration or arrangement of sensor probes (602) and probe hubs (670)may be connected to a master port (676) of an upstream hub (670). Sensorprobes (602) and probe hubs (670) may be “hot inserted” into masterports (676) of an upstream probe hub (660) or the remote monitoring unit(660).

The multiplexer (672) is configured to multiplex, or route, clocksignals and/or data signals preferably being I2C clock signals and datasignals. For example, the multiplexer (672) may be configured to route aclock signal and a data signal, received from the remote monitoring unit(660), to a particular sensor probe (602). The sensor probe, receivingthe clock signal and data signal from the remote monitoring unit via oneor probe hubs, may then respond by sending data to the remote monitoringunit. The data sent from the sensor probe is received by the multiplexer(672) which then routes the received data to the remote monitoring unit,optionally via one or more additional probe hubs (670).

The plurality of communication buses (674) may be I2C communicationbusses and may provide serial clock and serial data lines. In someembodiments, the communication busses (674) may have four or five wiresfor a clock signal, a data signal, a power signal, a ground signal andoptionally an interrupt signal. In some embodiments of the invention,the power and ground signals may be multiplexed, while in otherembodiments, the power and ground signals are provided to all sensorprobes and probe hubs simultaneously. In some embodiments, electricalpower is provided to each master port (676) by a corresponding powerswitch (675) via a static protector (677). Thus the one or more sensorprobes (602), in some embodiments being in communication via an I2Ccommunication bus, of the system (601) may be split into smaller I2Csub-systems by including a probe hub (670) having a multiplexer (672) orI2C hub. Multiplexers or I2C hubs divide the I2C devices into, forexample, a 2 sub-system, a 4 sub-system or a 8 sub-system.

The static protectors (677) on each master port (676) may be operable toisolate a power signal, the clock signal and a data signal (e.g. SCL andSDA lines), and also the interrupt, or wake-up, line from the sensorprobes.

The probe hub (670) may further be operable to latch each incominginterrupt line from each other, yet being operable to pass a commoninterrupt to the sensor probe. In embodiments of the invention, theprobe hub (670) is operable to isolate each incoming interrupt line fromeach other and from a common interrupt line going to the sensor probe,in case of a sensor failure in a sensor probe. In some embodiments, theprobe hub (670) is configured to limit current drawn by each multiplexedline of sensor probes, and should there be a current overload or shorton a particular line, that line is isolated from the other lines. Inthis manner other, functioning sensor probes may continue to functionwithout being affected by a faulty sensor probe. In some cases this mayprevent unnecessary current from being drawn which may help to preservebattery life. It is further anticipated that each sensor hub (670) maybe operable to report any faulty sensor probes and/or MEMS sensors,power shorts, line shorts and the like, on a group of sensors while theremainder are kept functional.

In embodiments of the invention, a master node of the remote monitoringunit is operable to identify each sensor probe and/or MEMS sensors ofeach sensor probe via the digital storage module of each sensor probe.Accordingly received data may be associated with a particular sensorprobe and/or a particular sensor by the remote monitoring unit.

In some embodiments, multiple probe hubs may be daisy chained orcascaded in up to 100 ft. increments of up to four probe hubs althoughit may be the case that more probe hubs may be provided. Each probe hubmay connect up to 4 daisy-chained hubs and/or have up to 4 probesconnected. Each probe hub has a unique identifier which may make itaddressable via the I2C bus.

In some embodiments, the remote monitoring unit may provide more thanone port via which sensor probes or probe hubs may be connected. Suchembodiments may accordingly cater for dual sensor networks which in somecases may provide redundancy. In some embodiments, such dual sensornetworks could be implemented in transportable refrigerators havingmultiple compartments and wherein the remote monitoring unit is chargedperiodically. For example, the battery may be charged each time thetransportable refrigerators is connected to a tractor. Suchimplementations may include four probe hubs per port of the remotemonitoring unit with each probe hub having three sensor probes andanother hub connected thereto.

FIG. 9 is a swim-lane flow diagram which illustrates a method of sensingparameters according to embodiments of the invention. The method isconducted by a probe sensor system. Different swim-lanes in the figureillustrate delineate which steps are performed by respective devices ofthe system. In the illustrated embodiment, the system includes a sensorprobe (902), two probe hubs (970, 971) and a remote monitoring unit(960) according to embodiments of the invention. The devices (902, 970,971, 960) are connected in a daisy-chain formation as has beenpreviously described in this specification.

The method begins with a first step (1002) of detecting an event usingone or more MEMS sensors at the sensor probe (902). The detected eventmay correspond to a change in a sensed parameter. In a next step (1004),the detection is stored in a digital memory of the MEMS sensor or adigital storage module of the sensor probe (902). In a following step(1005), an interrupt is transmitted to an upstream, or master, device,in the illustrated embodiment being a first probe hub (970).

In a next step (1006), the interrupt is received from the sensor probe(902), being a downstream, or slave device, at the first probe hub(970). Responsive to receiving the interrupt from the sensor probe(902), the first probe hub (970), in a next step (1008), interrogatesthe sensor probe.

Responsive to interrogation by the first probe hub (970), the sensorprobe (902) transmits, in a following step (1010) at least the storeddetection and associated measurement data to the first probe hub (970)which in a next step (1012), is received by the first probe hub (970)stored (1014) in a digital memory thereof.

The first probe hub may also be configured to, responsive to receivingthe detection from the sensor probe (902), in a next step (1016),transmit an interrupt to another device, being upstream of the firstprobe hub (970). In the illustrated embodiment, a second probe hub (971)is upstream of first probe hub (971) and acts as a master device, ormaster node to the downstream, first probe hub (970).

A process similar to what is described above then ensues between thefirst probe hub (970) and the second probe hub (971) with first probehub (970) now acting as a downstream device, or slave device, the secondprobe hub (971) now acting as the upstream, or master, device. Once theinterrogation (1020) and transmitting (1022), receiving (1024) andstoring (1026) of data between the upstream and downstream devices hasoccurred, in a manner similar to that described above, the second probehub (971) may then, acting subsequently as a downstream, or slave,device, transmit (1028) an interrupt to yet another upstream device, inthe illustrated embodiment being the remote monitoring unit (960).

Similarly, the remote monitoring unit (960) receives (1030) theinterrupt from the downstream device and responsive to which,interrogates (1032) the downstream device being the second probe hub(971). The second probe hub (971) may then transmit (1034) the detectionto the remote monitoring unit (960) which receives and stores (1036) thedetection.

FIG. 10 is a swim-lane flow diagram which illustrates additional stepsof the method of sensing parameters described above with reference toFIG. 9. The additional steps of the method relate to programming, orupdating, sensing parameters of a sensor probe (902) according toembodiments of the invention. For example the sensor probe may beprogrammed to detect when a temperature to which the sensor probe (902)is exposed reaches 20 degrees centigrade, or for example when atemperature to which the sensor probe (902) is exposed is outside of arange between −2 and 2 degrees centigrade.

The additional steps of the method may be conducted at a remotemonitoring unit (960), or a probe hub (970 or 971). In some embodiments,the sensing parameters of the sensor probe (902) may be updated by via aremote server, such as a commuting device, connected to the remotemonitoring unit or remotely via the internet or an appropriate databaseserver.

The method includes a first step (1102) of the remote monitoring unit(960) addressing a sensor probe (902) using a unique probe identifier ata microcontroller of a next downstream hub and forwarding unique probeidentifier, a sensor identifier and sensor parameters to be programmedinto the addressed sensor probe to the next downstream hub, in theillustrated embodiment being a first probe hub (971) of the sensor probenetwork. The first probe hub (971), then checks (1104) to ascertain ifthe addressed sensor probe (902) is connected to itself, and if not, itforwards (1106) the address, which may be the unique probe identifier, asensor identifier and sensor parameters to be programmed into theaddressed sensor probe to the next downstream to the next downstreamhub, being a second probe hub (970) in the illustrated embodiment. Amicrocontroller of the second probe hub (970) similarly checks (1108) toascertain if the addressed sensor probe (902) is connected to itself. Inthe illustrated embodiment, the addressed sensor probe (902) isconnected to the second sensor hub (970). The microcontroller of thesecond probe hub (970) then addresses (1110) a digital storage module ofthe sensor probe (902) and updates (1112) one or more sensor parametersof sensors connected to the sensor probe (902). In alternateembodiments, the address may be forwarded to yet a further downstreamdevice.

The methods described above with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10 areexemplary and both more complicated and simpler systems are anticipated.It may, for example be the case that the system comprises only onesensor probe (970) and one remote monitoring unit (960). It may also bethe case that the system comprises a plurality of sensor probes and aplurality of sensor hubs which are daisy chained as has been describedin the foregoing description and connected to a remote monitoring unit.It is therefore anticipated that the methods described above may beimplemented, mutatis mutandis, in any one of a variety of configurationsof sensor probes and probe hubs with probe hubs acting as master nodesor devices to downstream hubs and slave nodes or devices to upstreamhubs.

Embodiments of the invention relate to sensor probes, more particularlyto a sensor probe that can contain a single, or multiple MEMS sensorswherein each sensor may be configured to sense different parameters. Oneor more MEMS sensors are incorporated onto a PCB that also includes anEEPROM IC, all of which are enclosed in a probe housing, which ispreferably of a generally of tubular shape. In preferred embodiments,the sensor probe uses an I2C communication protocol to transmit sensordata via a cable to a remote monitoring unit. Embodiments of theinvention further provide a probe hub, preferably being an I2C hub, intowhich several sensor probes can be plugged via a cable. Furthermore, asecond probe hub also be plugged into the first probe hub, andoptionally a third probe hub into the second probe hub, and so on, sothat a chain of cascaded probe hubs may be formed with each probe hubhaving one or more sensor probes in electrical communication therewith.The first probe hub may then be connected to and in electricalcommunication with a remote monitoring unit. As each probe hub, and eachsensor probe is uniquely identifiable and addressable, the monitoringunit may discern from which sensor probe, and more specifically fromwhich sensor on that sensor probe a particular measurement relates mayfurther have to a remote monitoring unit. Therefore it is possible for aremote monitoring unit with only a single I2C communication port toreceive sensor data via the I2C Hub from multiple multi-function sensorprobes.

FIG. 11 illustrates an example of a computing device (1200) in whichvarious aspects of the disclosure may be implemented. The computingdevice (1200) may be suitable for storing and executing computer programcode. The various participants and elements in the previously describedsystem diagrams may use any suitable number of subsystems or componentsof the computing device (1200) to facilitate the functions describedherein.

The computing device (1200) may include subsystems or componentsinterconnected via a communication infrastructure (1205) (for example, acommunications bus, a cross-over bar device, or a network). Thecomputing device (1200) may include at least one central processor(1210) and at least one memory component in the form ofcomputer-readable media.

The memory components may include system memory (1215), which mayinclude read only memory (ROM) and random access memory (RAM). A basicinput/output system (BIOS) may be stored in ROM. System software may bestored in the system memory (1215) including operating system software.

The memory components may also include secondary memory (1220). Thesecondary memory (1220) may include a fixed disk (1221), such as a harddisk drive, and, optionally, one or more removable-storage interfaces(1222) for removable-storage components (1223).

The removable-storage interfaces (1222) may be in the form ofremovable-storage drives (for example, magnetic tape drives, opticaldisk drives, floppy disk drives, etc.) for corresponding removablestorage-components (for example, a magnetic tape, an optical disk, afloppy disk, etc.), which may be written to and read by theremovable-storage drive.

The removable-storage interfaces (1222) may also be in the form of portsor sockets for interfacing with other forms of removable-storagecomponents (1223) such as a flash memory drive, external hard drive, orremovable memory chip, etc.

The computing device (1200) may include an external communicationsinterface (1230) for operation of the computing device (1200) in anetworked environment enabling transfer of data between multiplecomputing devices (1200). Data transferred via the externalcommunications interface (1230) may be in the form of signals, which maybe electronic, electromagnetic, optical, radio, or other types ofsignal.

The external communications interface (1230) may enable communication ofdata between the computing device (1200) and other computing devicesincluding servers and external storage facilities. Web services may beaccessible by the computing device (1200) via the communicationsinterface (1230).

The external communications interface (1230) may also enable other formsof communication to and from the computing device (1200) including,voice communication, near field communication, Bluetooth, etc.

The computer-readable media in the form of the various memory componentsmay provide storage of computer-executable instructions, datastructures, program modules, and other data. A computer program productmay be provided by a computer-readable medium having storedcomputer-readable program code executable by the central processor(1210).

A computer program product may be provided by a non-transientcomputer-readable medium, or may be provided via a signal or othertransient means via the communications interface (1230).

Interconnection via the communication infrastructure (1205) allows acentral processor (1210) to communicate with each subsystem or componentand to control the execution of instructions from the memory components,as well as the exchange of information between subsystems or components.

Peripherals (such as printers, scanners, cameras, or the like) andinput/output (I/O) devices (such as a mouse, touchpad, keyboard,microphone, joystick, or the like) may couple to the computing device(1200) either directly or via an I/O controller (1235). These componentsmay be connected to the computing device (1200) by any number of meansknown in the art, such as a serial port.

One or more monitors (1245) may be coupled via a display or videoadapter (1240) to the computing device (1200).

FIG. 12 shows a block diagram of a communication device (1300) that maybe used in embodiments of the disclosure. The communication device(1300) may be a cell phone, a feature phone, a smart phone, a satellitephone, or a computing device having a phone capability.

The communication device (1300) may include a processor (1305) (e.g., amicroprocessor) for processing the functions of the communication device(1300) and a display (1320) to allow a user to see the phone numbers andother information and messages. The communication device (1300) mayfurther include an input element (1325) to allow a user to inputinformation into the device (e.g., input buttons, touch screen, etc.), aspeaker (1330) to allow the user to hear voice communication, music,etc., and a microphone (1335) to allow the user to transmit his or hervoice through the communication device (1300).

The processor (1310) of the communication device (1300) may connect to amemory (1315). The memory (1315) may be in the form of acomputer-readable medium that stores data and, optionally,computer-executable instructions.

The communication device (1300) may also include a communication element(1340) for connection to communication channels (e.g., a cellulartelephone network, data transmission network, Wi-Fi network,satellite-phone network, Internet network, Satellite Internet Network,etc.). The communication element (1340) may include an associatedwireless transfer element, such as an antenna.

The communication element (1340) may include a subscriber identitymodule (SIM) in the form of an integrated circuit that stores aninternational mobile subscriber identity and the related key used toidentify and authenticate a subscriber using the communication device(1300). One or more subscriber identity modules may be removable fromthe communication device (1300) or embedded in the communication device(1300).

The communication device (1300) may further include a contactlesselement (1350), which is typically implemented in the form of asemiconductor chip (or other data storage element) with an associatedwireless transfer element, such as an antenna. The contactless element(1350) may be associated with (e.g., embedded within) the communicationdevice (1300) and data or control instructions transmitted via acellular network may be applied to the contactless element (1350) bymeans of a contactless element interface (not shown). The contactlesselement interface may function to permit the exchange of data and/orcontrol instructions between mobile device circuitry (and hence thecellular network) and the contactless element (1350).

The contactless element (1350) may be capable of transferring andreceiving data using a near field communications (NFC) capability (ornear field communications medium) typically in accordance with astandardized protocol or data transfer mechanism (e.g., ISO 14443/NFC).Near field communications capability is a short-range communicationscapability, such as radio-frequency identification (RFID), Bluetooth,infra-red, or other data transfer capability that can be used toexchange data between the communication device (1300) and aninterrogation device. Thus, the communication device (1300) may becapable of communicating and transferring data and/or controlinstructions via both a cellular network and near field communicationscapability.

The data stored in the memory (1315) may include: operation datarelating to the operation of the communication device (1300), personaldata (e.g., name, date of birth, identification number, etc.), financialdata (e.g., bank account information, a bank identification number(BIN), credit or debit card number information, account balanceinformation, expiration date, loyalty provider account numbers, etc.),transit information (e.g., as in a subway or train pass), accessinformation (e.g., as in access badges), etc. A user may transmit thisdata from the communication device (1300) to selected receivers.

The communication device (1300) may be, amongst other things, anotification device that can receive alert messages and access reports,a portable merchant device that can be used to transmit control dataidentifying a discount to be applied, as well as a portable consumerdevice that can be used to make payments.

The foregoing description of the embodiments of the invention has beenpresented for the purpose of illustration; it is not intended to beexhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed.Persons skilled in the relevant art can appreciate that manymodifications and variations are possible in light of the abovedisclosure.

Some portions of this description describe the embodiments of theinvention in terms of algorithms and symbolic representations ofoperations on information. These algorithmic descriptions andrepresentations are commonly used by those skilled in the dataprocessing arts to convey the substance of their work effectively toothers skilled in the art. These operations, while describedfunctionally, computationally, or logically, are understood to beimplemented by computer programs or equivalent electrical circuits,microcode, or the like. The described operations may be embodied insoftware, firmware, hardware, or any combinations thereof.

The software components or functions described in this application maybe implemented as software code to be executed by one or more processorsusing any suitable computer language such as, for example, Java, C++, orPerl using, for example, conventional or object-oriented techniques. Thesoftware code may be stored as a series of instructions, or commands ona non-transitory computer-readable medium, such as a random accessmemory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), a magnetic medium such as ahard-drive or a floppy disk, or an optical medium such as a CD-ROM. Anysuch computer-readable medium may also reside on or within a singlecomputational apparatus, and may be present on or within differentcomputational apparatuses within a system or network.

Any of the steps, operations, or processes described herein may beperformed or implemented with one or more hardware or software modules,alone or in combination with other devices. In one embodiment, asoftware module is implemented with a computer program productcomprising a non-transient computer-readable medium containing computerprogram code, which can be executed by a computer processor forperforming any or all of the steps, operations, or processes described.

Finally, the language used in the specification has been principallyselected for readability and instructional purposes, and it may not havebeen selected to delineate or circumscribe the inventive subject matter.It is therefore intended that the scope of the invention be limited notby this detailed description, but rather by any claims that issue on anapplication based hereon. Accordingly, the disclosure of the embodimentsof the invention is intended to be illustrative, but not limiting, ofthe scope of the invention, which is set forth in the following claims.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A sensor probe comprising: a substrate; amicroelectromechanical systems (MEMS) sensor disposed on the substrateand configured to sense a parameter and detect a change in theparameter; a communication bus disposed on the substrate and inelectrical communication with the MEMS sensor, and including a clockline, a data line, a power line, a ground line, and an interrupt line; adigital storage module in which a unique probe identifier is stored, thedigital storage module being in electrical communication with thecommunication bus; and, a cable, a first end of which is in electricalcommunication with the communication bus and a second end of which is inelectrical communication with a remote monitoring unit, and thus extendsthe communication bus to the remote monitoring unit, wherein the sensorprobe: (i) receives electrical power from the remote monitoring unit viathe power line; and (ii) in response to the MEMS sensor detecting thechange in the parameter, transmits an interrupt to the remote monitoringunit via the interrupt line; and (iii) communicates data from the sensorto the remote monitoring unit via the data line.
 2. The sensor probeaccording to claim 1, wherein the digital storage module is anelectrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM) integratedcircuit.
 3. The sensor probe according to claim 1, wherein sensoridentifier data are stored in the digital storage module including oneor more of the group of: sensor identifiers; sensor properties; aregister; access table maps, and up-loadable sensor driver accessprograms.
 4. The sensor probe according to claim 3, wherein a sensoridentifier identifies a type of MEMS sensor and associated properties ofthe MEMS sensor to which it corresponds, and wherein the digital storagemodule communicates the unique probe identifier and/or sensor identifierdata to the remote monitoring unit via the communication bus and cable.5. The sensor probe according to claim 1, wherein the communication busincludes an inter-integrated circuit (I²C) communication bus, andwherein the sensor probe is a slave node and the remote monitoring unitis a master node and, wherein the MEMS sensor is configured to receivepermanent electrical power and a clock signal from the remote monitoringunit on an intermittent basis.
 6. The sensor probe according to claim 1,wherein the sensor probe further comprises a casing in which thesubstrate, the MEMS sensor, the digital storage module and thecommunication bus are disposed.
 7. The sensor probe according to claim1, wherein the cable is further configured to transmit and receive databetween the MEMS sensor and the remote monitoring unit, and wherein thedata includes commands, parameters and threshold limits.
 8. A probesensor system comprising a sensor probe as claimed in claim 1 and aremote monitoring unit, wherein the remote monitoring unit comprises: apower source configured to provide electrical power to the remotemonitoring unit and the sensor probe; a master node at least beingconfigured to transmit data to, and receive data from, the sensor probevia the cable, the received data at least including information relatingto the parameter sensed by the MEMS sensor; and, a communication moduleconfigured to communicate at least the received data to a remotelyaccessible server, wherein said the remote monitoring unit receives theinterrupt from the sensor probe, and in response thereto, interrogatesthe sensor probe.
 9. The probe sensor system according to claim 8,wherein the system further includes a probe hub, and wherein the sensorprobe and one or more additional sensor probes are connected to and inelectrical communication with the probe hub, the probe hub further beingconnected to and in electrical communication with the remote monitoringunit, the probe hub comprising a hub microcontroller and multiplexercircuit and being operable to multiplex data sent from respective sensorprobes to the remote monitoring unit and vice versa.
 10. The probesensor system according to claim 9, wherein the probe hub includes oneslave port and one or more master ports, wherein the probe hub acts as amaster to sensor probes connected to master ports thereof, and whereinthe probe hub acts as a slave to the remote monitoring unit connected tothe slave port.
 11. The probe sensor system according to claim 9,wherein the hub microcontroller is configured to manage and storemultiple interrupts and associated measurement data originating fromsensor probes connected thereto and to transmit the interrupt to theremote monitoring unit, and wherein the remote monitoring unit isconfigured to receive the interrupt and, responsive to which,interrogate the probe hub for stored interrupts and associatedmeasurement data.
 12. The probe sensor system according to claim 11,wherein the probe hub is configured to, responsive to interrogation bythe remote monitoring unit, communicate stored interrupts and associatedsensor data to the remote monitoring unit.
 13. The probe sensor systemaccording to claim 12, wherein additional probe hubs are provided,wherein the additional probe hubs are connected in a daisy-chainformation with a series of additional probe hubs being connecteddownstream from the probe hub, and wherein each one of the downstreamprobe hubs is in electrical communication with, and acts as a slave to,preceding upstream probe hubs and each upstream probe hub acts as amaster to succeeding downstream probe hubs.
 14. The probe sensor systemaccording to claim 13, wherein each probe hub is addressable by a commonand programmable unique hub identifier, and wherein each probe hub hasone or more sensor probes connected thereto and in electricalcommunication therewith.
 15. The probe sensor system according to claim13, wherein each slave is configured to send an interrupt to its masterto cause the master to interrogate the slave and, responsive to which,the slave is configured to communicate stored interrupts and associatedsensor data to the master.